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Feds decide Goodhue County wind project's New Era kepsar eagle toll is OK The 48turbine endeavor would kill at most eight to 15 eagles a year, A number to not harm the local population, Federal officials said in a letter to state regulators. Fish and Wildlife Service said its estimate does not include possible strategies to reduce cellular phone eagles killed and, when a permit is eventually granted, The goal must have been a much lower figure.The small wind project near Red Wing has drawn national attention as the important to try the government's controversial new strategy of managing the sometimes lethal conflict between birds, Bats and the towering generators.a few of the new federal "Incidentaltake' permits are in the whole shebang, Including one in north carolina and one in Oregon, But none are actually granted.The Goodhue County display, Now held by new era Wind Farm, Is the farthest along in the process, Said Kelly Fuller of the united states Bird Conservancy, A nationalized advocacy group. "That is numerous bald eagles, She said of the new guess. "This is the kind of project that is an enormous black eye for [each] Wind deal,bob Mastic, who owns new era, Did not return a mobile call on Wednesday seeking comment.new era wind, prior to now AWA Goodhue Wind, sent applications for a permit four years ago, And still faces several regulating hurdles that the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) might consider during hearings later this year. It's already faced numerous legal actions and fierce resistance by many in the largely farming community who have raised concerns about noise, Shadows cast by the rotating turbines and potential side effects on health.firm has conducted bird and bat surveys, And filed a bird and bat safety plan, Which the PUC has yet to believe. The letter from the Fish and wild animals Service, Plus comments by the Minnesota section of Natural Resources, Came in response to that plan.Tony Sullins, Field examiner for the regional Fish and Wildlife office, Said in the letter that there are about 418 eagles around the project's 20squaremile footprint. Earlier documents said the area has about 10 active nests, And new era shop the project's opponents say they have recently uncovered two more. in addition, A few golden eagles are considered in the area.Sullins' letter revealed that the wildlife agency's estimate of eight to 15 eagle deaths a year "Is a worstcase example, And there are not enough to endanger them. due to the fact, The agency is willing to consider the company's request for a permit that would include strategies of significantly reducing the number of potential kills.In interviews, Sullins said potentialities include moving turbines away from risky spots, Turning them off during migrations or other times when you will discover numbers of eagles in the area, And taking care of animal carcasses and roadkill, Which are a major eating place for the birds,[the business] Has put on the table lots of things they are willing to discuss, Sullins said wednesday. the business has said that it estimates a kill of one eagle per year.also to golden eagles is low, The page said, One to two available deaths over the 30year life of the project, The standard said.But there is no permit for killing golden eagles in this part of the united states, And if one were to collide with a generator in Goodhue County, "It would be described as a prosecutable offense, The mail said.But volumptuous, Echoing arguments made by local enemies, Maintains that the site is incompatible for a wind project. The DNR has scored it of "carrier" Risk to wild animals, weighed against some other pending New Era caps state projects that are rated as "substantial,richer noted that, As the Fish and creatures Service states in its letter, none of the risk models or bird protection plans has ever been tested,/p>
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